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Accounting Estimates <br />Accounting estimates are an integral part of the financial statements prepared by management and are <br />based on management's knowledge and experience about past and current events and assumptions <br />about future events. Certain accounting estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance <br />to the financial statements and because of the possibility that future events affecting them may differ <br />significantly from those expected. The most sensitive estimates affecting the financial statements were: <br />Annual depreciation is provided using rates sufficient to fully depreciate the related capital assets <br />over their useful lives based on past experiences. <br />The year end valuation of investments at fair value. <br />The City has recognized a liability for earned sick leave benefits. The amount recorded includes <br />amounts earned through December 31, 2004 by employees eligible for retirement at that date. In <br />addition, an amount is recorded for those individuals not eligible for retirement at December 31, <br />2004, but for whom pay-out of the amount earned to that date is reasonably expected. This <br />estimate is derived by an analysis of the pay-out history and current and anticipated future <br />employment conditions. <br />We evaluated the key factors and assumptions used to develop the above estimates in determining that <br />it is reasonable in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole. <br />Audit Adjustments <br />For purposes of this letter, professional standards define an audit adjustment as a proposed correction <br />of the financial statements that, in our judgment, may not have been detected except through our <br />auditing procedures. An audit adjustment may or may not indicate matters that could have a significant <br />effect on the City's financial reporting process (that is, cause future financial statements to be materially <br />misstated). In our judgment, none of the adjustments we proposed, whether recorded or unrecorded by <br />the City, either individually or in the aggregate, indicate matters that could have a significant effect on <br />the City's financial reporting process. <br />Management did not identify and we did not notify them of any uncorrected financial statement <br />misstatements. <br />Disagreements with Management <br />For purposes of this letter, professional standards define a disagreement with management as a matter, <br />whether or not resolved to our satisfaction, concerning a financial accounting, reporting, or auditing <br />matter that could be significant to the financial statements or the auditors report. We are pleased to <br />report that no such disagreements arose during the course of our audit. <br />Consultations with Other Independent Accountants <br />In some cases, management may decide to consult with other accountants about auditing and <br />accounting matters, similar to obtaining a "second opinion" on certain situations. If a consultation <br />involves application of an accounting principle to the governmental unit's financial statements or a <br />determination of the type of auditors' opinion that may be expressed on those statements, our <br />professional standards require the consulting accountant to check with us to determine that the <br />consultant has all the relevant facts. To our knowledge, there were no such consultations with other <br />accountants. <br />(5) <br />